Miss Douglas

A Memorial Service to Lord Kitchener on the Anniversary of his death was held at the Godolphin School, Salisbury, on Tuesday evening, and a Roll of Honour of the names of the relations and friends of past and present members of the School was read. The National Anthem and suitable hymns, accompanied by the School Orchestra, were sung. Miss Douglas read two “lessons” from Revelation XIV. and XV., and the other from Wisdom III. At the commencement, the Hon. Lady Hulse gave an address on Lord Kitchener. She said :­A year ago to-night the sea, which is at once the source of our strength and of our weakness, took from us Lord Kitchener of Khartoum: the man who we feel stands at the head of that band of heroes of our own, whose deeds we honour in our Service to-night, and whose deaths we mourn: the man, who, in the early days in the war, roused England from end to end to a sense of her danger and her need, and who, by the magic of his name and the power of his personality, called into being that great new Army, Kitchener’s Army, which convinced our enemies that the heart of England was sound, and which on battle­field upon battlefield has justified Lord Kitchener’s supreme faith in it, by countless deeds of heroism, and by cheerful endurance of untold hardship and suffering. Those of us who worked at recruiting in the first months of the war realised to the full the power of Lord Kitchener’s name, and we used it for all it was worth, for we knew that we were using something worthy of England and worthy of the cause in which England had drawn the sword. The power of his name was all the more remarkable because Lord Kitchener had spent practi­cally all his life away from home, helping to strengthen that far-flung battle-line of ours, fighting always with clean hands for the honour of England as well as for her power and her might. But the secret of the magic of his name lay in this, that England still loves and is faithful to a man who is upright as well as fearless.

WHO SHALL CRITICISE

Many of you here to-night have heard Lord Kitchener criticised; You have heard that he made mistakes in his conduct of the war. It is true, and he would be the first to acknowledge it, and it is equally true that in all the countries engaged in this war, either with us or against us, the statesmen, the generals, and the leaders have made mistakes and are making them still. And for this reason, that the magnitude of the war is such, and the stagnation of it, that it long since passed beyond the power of successful human direction to a given military issue. It is a hard fact to face; but we have got to face it, not only without being discouraged or disheartened, but with greater endeavour and greater endurance than we have ever shown before. When we remember the stupendous organisation, the vast numbers of men engaged, the deadly nature of the weapons employed in the destruction of human life, for that is what Germany has brought us to, that almost all the finest scientific brains of the world are employed at this moment in inventing or in perfecting means for destroying human life; when we realise these things we can surely feel that the forces of destruction which man has himself devised and perfected have passed beyond his own power to direct to a definitely successful end. We shall defeat the Germans because the power is being given to us to outlast them, and in so doing we shall help to save the world itself from the degradation and misery of German domination. If Lord Kitchener were with us still, his cool, calm courage would help us to face and to accept this fact, that there is glory in a victory of endurance as well as in a victory by sheer force of arms. We shall continue to pray unceasingly and unswervingly for that victory which will be ours at last, though it will not be the victory of our dreams. And, realising all these things, I ask you to remember that only those men have the right to criticise Lord Kitchener who have done as much as he had done for the Empire, and who have spent the years he had spent in the Empire’s service. And as to the men who attack him, they, you can remember, are not worthy even to count the medals which he had won in his country’ service.
You children will live on into the years when this war will have become history, when things will be seen in their true proportion. when the names of the little men will be forgotten, and only the names of the great men survive. In those days the man who died for England a Year ago to-night, will come into his own. For men are judged at the bar of eternal justice by all the things that matter most, by their knowledge of what is right and what is wrong, by their devotion to duty, by their fearlessness of mind as well as heart, and so we know that the spirit of Kitchener had nothing to fear when it rose from the sea a year ago to face that great ordeal.

EMPIRE BUILDING.

Lord Kitchener’s work for Egypt. one of the finest pages in the history of his life, is not realised and appreciated in England as it should be. A friend of mine who was a, great friend of Lord Kitchener’s, has made some notes for me which with Miss Douglas ‘permission, I will read to you; they throw some light on what Lord Kitchener had done for Egypt, that historic land of our adoption.
“Lord Kitchener’s care and knowledge of the poor in Egypt was remarkable, and they, separated as they are from all white people by religion, language, and point of view, felt him most truly to be their protector. They would go anywhere to see him, and would wait any number of hours to watch him pass. He lived in Cairo, but familiarity made no difference to them. I have seen thousands of people waiting round the stations to see him when he was going or returning from a journey: It was outside the Cairo Station that an attempt was once made on his life. and the police were often nervous lest the German-paid agitators should kill him. But Lord Kitchener never paid the least attention to anyone’s nerves. He was always the man to rode into Khartoum alone at the head of his conquering Army the day after he had defeated the Kalifa.
But it was when lie went into the Provinces that he saw how truly the heart, of Egypt was his. On his last tour before the war, the enthusiastic mob swept him away from his companions and, surrounding him, a compact crowd of peasants, farmers, and notables, walked with him, step by step, people edging up to him, touching his coat, his hand, his walking stick, as if they were sacred, and then making way for others to do the same. The Egyptian countryman knew his friend and showed his love and gratitude in this artless fashion. An Englishman who was there said afterwards: ‘I never saw K. look so pleased.’
“He was always accessible to the people. Old village men would come up all the way from their distant countrysides to tell him of a grumble about land or grievance about water. Often his staff used to be, him to delegate others to do this eternal fatiguing work of interviewing. But he would always see the people himself, and they took his word and judgment as coming straight from Heaven.
“I have seen him worn out (he used to have very bad headaches) evening after evening from doing this apparently trivial work. But it was this mass of effort, this outpouring of sympathy that made him most truly the father of his people in Egypt.
“After his death, and for the only time in the history of the world, Christians, Jews and Mohanimedans met at the same Service to honour his memory.”
And I am sure you feel with me that we shall do well to enshrine in our hearts the remembrance of this wonderful incident that Kitchener of Khartoum was great enough in his life to weld together by his death the warring elements of these diverse religions in one common Service of Worship of the God whom lie worshipped, the God of battles and of all lust and righteous causes.

On May 31st you would hardly have recognised the Wilderness garden, which Miss Bagnall so kindly lent for the I., IL, IIL and Lower IV. Forms to act their plays in.
At 4 o’clock, if you had come into the kitchen at Rose Villa, you would have seen it strewn with various acting clothes, which some of the Lower IV. actors were trying to put on. We bad to cover ourselves over with long coats to hide our dresses.
At 4.30, the visitors arrived, and amongst them were Miss Douglas, Miss Lucy, Miss Bagnall and Miss Prosser.
There was a great deal of bustle and excitement, and the Chairman of the Literary Club announced that the 1st Form would now act their play. It was called ‘”The Dream Fairy,” written by Betty Clarke and Betty Salisbury. Muriel Arnold took the part of an old grandmother, and acted it very well. As there was no curtain, the Chairman hid, “Would you kindly shut your eyes while the first scene of the 2nd Form is being prepared?” It was a great temptation to open our eyes as we now and then caught glimpses of fairies, who were dressed in beautiful fairy-like frocks.
It was a most charming little play, called ” The Twins in Fairyland,” and was written by Betty Aldworth. The fairies did a sweet little dance, at the end of which the ‘Twins’ presented Miss Douglas with two lovely bunches of peonies. Mademoiselle Cornellie and Miss Oliver very kindly took a, great deal of trouble in arranging it, and making some of the dresses.
Then came the 3rd Form play, which was thrilling, and was called “The Desert Island.” Rachel Aldworth was the authoress, and was helped by other members of the Form. The savages acted their parts extremely well, and quite frightened us by piercing shrieks, as they rushed upon the poor shipwrecked crew, who were stranded on ” The Desert Island.” After the 3rd Form had finished acting their exciting play, the Lower IV. came upon the scene. Their play was called ” The Experiences of a Red Cross Nurse,” which was written by Peggy Savage and Marjorie Sargeaunt. All the plays were a great success, and we hope that all who were present enjoyed them.

During the summer holidays I heard from the Bishop that he would be willing to give one day to the Godolphin School to bring to them himself a message which should make the Mission a reality to us. We looked forward to the day appointed (Friday, October 27th) steadily from the first day of term, and during the fortnight immediately preceding it, we tried to make a special preparation for the Bishop’s visit. Instead of our usual form of Morning Prayers at School we had special prayers and a special hymn, and I said a few words each day on the different clauses of the Veni Creator. I have been asked to write down as nearly as possible what I said.

October 16th.

“Come, Holy Ghost our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire;
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost Thy seven-fold gifts impart.”
Let us this morning think especially of these four lines. First, let us think of the Holy Spirit on the one hand, explained to us under the figures of the very Breath of the Life of God Himself; the Fire, that is a magnificent force burning out of us what is evil, and bringing out the good in us like pure gold, and inflaming us with high desires ; the unstinting Oil of Anointing being ready to be poured down upon us endlessly, in a seven-fold shower. Let us, on the other hand, think of ourselves, with our hearts waiting and open to receive God’s Life, God’s Fire, and God’s Anointing to His Service.

October 17th.

“Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.”
God’s blessed unction is the anointing spoken of yesterday, the Holy Spirit poured down like the holy oil which dedicated Prophets, Priests and Kings, to the service of God. Let us picture the Captain of our Salvation, the greatest Prophet, Priest and King, being thus dedicated in His Baptism. He was always one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and yet when He was baptised the Holy Spirit, in a special manner, flooded His soul with comfort, life, and fire of love. Comfort means strength. He received strength to conquer temptation, to comfort Him in His extreme loneliness and in His many bitter disappointments, and to uphold Him in His Passion and in the hour of His Death. Life and Love poured into Him as into no other, but through Him they flow endlessly for all those who pray for His Holy Spirit. We need just what He as true Man needed: Strength to stand up for Him in the hour of temptation, Comfort in loneliness and disappointment, the energy of Life, and the Fire of Love.

October 18th.

“Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.”
We have seen that the Holy Spirit is like Fire, and we have spoken of the tremendous force of fire to burn and to purify, and we have also thought of the heat of fire inflaming our desires for what is good. But fire is also light. The flame of a candle in the largest, darkest room conquers the darkness wherever it is held, and to-day we come to the part of this prayer which says: “Enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight.” We often speak as if we had other eyes besides those in our heads. The mind has eves, and so we con­stantly and naturally say when we understand a thing which we have not understood before, “Oh, I see it now.” So we have other eyes which make us see what is right and wrong. How often we do wrong thoughtlessly, and afterwards say “I see now that it was wrong.” Now this prayer speaks of blindness of the soul, and prays that it may be removed and we may see clearly. But it is not enough to light a candle in a dark room, we must also bring the object we want to see under the light-the book, the needlework, the letter-and so if we ask the Holy Spirit to be like a candle, we must bring ourselves into the light of it and not flinch from its brightest rays ; and also we must let the light shine directly on the glorious Life of the Master and on the Love of God, that we may behold these for our inspiration, comfort, and strength.

October 19th.

“Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of Thy Grace.”
One of the special fruits of the Spirit if Joy. Cheerfulness is often perfectly natural and spontaneous, when we feel well and young and fresh and happy, and have nothing sad or regrettable on our minds; and this is just as it should be. Let us thank God for all thee cheerful high spirits that help to make life happy. But sometimes cheerfulness springs from other causes than mere light-heartedness and health and amusing or enjoyable surroundings. There is a cheerfulness that is born of courage, self-sacrifice, devoted work for others, or a noble pride which has been satisfied by something nobly done by someone we love; and whilst we thank God for all spontaneous joy in our hearts, let us pray for the cheerfulness which comes of the abundance of God’s Grace poured into our hearts.

October 20th and 21st.

“Keep far our foes, give peace at home:
Where Thou art Guide no ill can come.”
First, let us pray this prayer with regard to the war now going on. Let us pray that this dear land of ours, our home, may be preserved from bloodshed. We have been, as a country, most mercifully pre­served, whatever the sacrifices which thousands have been called upon to make. So we pray against literal invasion; but we will not stop there, we want lasting peace for all homes, for all countries. We want­ with all the earnestness that is in us-that the greatness of the present tragedy, with such horrors of war introduced by the enemy that have never been before imagined or connected with honourable warfare, we desire, I say, that this shall mean “never again” in the history of civilization and of Christianity.
Secondly, we may think of these words in connection with the National Mission. The heart of man is his home, and that home has its foes. Honourable peace in the heart of man can only be won through bravest persevering conflict sustained through prayer and the strength of the Holy Spirit. Again, the nation has a, heart, a spirit; and the nation has spiritual foes, or material foes, to true peace at the heart of the nation. The National Mission is intended to stir up a true conflict with these foes, so that through penitence a great hope for a purified country owning its allegiance to God may be born.

October 24th.

“Teach us to know the Father.”
The Prophets of old taught the Israelites to regard God as their Father. “I will be his Father, he shall be My son,” “Doubtless Thou art our Father,” “I am a Father to Israel.” God guiding, protecting, feeding, and caring for His children, Israel, though they were so rebellious. But it was left for Christ to reveal the Love of the Father and the Person of the Father with much greater clearness. When we read St. John xiv., xv., xvi., and xvii., we learn a great deal about the Father. Christ came to express the Father to us. He was “the Word of God.” He said to Philip “Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know Me Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.”
The Fatherhood of God implies the Brotherhood of men. We are all His children, made in His likeness, and with the possibility in us of behaving as His children should behave.

October 25th.

“Teach us to know the Son.”
The Greek language has two words for “knowing,” one word would be used for a superficial knowledge, the other means to know as we know a dear friend. Let us read what Christ’s friends who knew Him thought of Him, St. John and St. Paul, and the others. Let us too think of Him as one it is possible to know in this way. Let us think of Him as our Elder Brother, Friend, Captain, Hero, then let us be enthusiastic about Him and appropriate Him and His Strength.

October 26th

“Thee of both to be but One.”
One way of knowing God’s Holy Spirit would be to understand more of this Prayer to Him that we are studying together, and to pray it each day better.

And then the prayer ends:
“That through the ages all along
This may be our endless song,
Praise to Thy Eternal Merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

It has been said that the sun is an emblem of the Blessed Trinity. The three-fold gift of the sun, light, life, and heat, all different gifts yet all one, emanating from one source. The wonder of the glorious sun is, indeed, a faint reflection of the mysterious Glory of the Blessed Trinity. The Light of the Holy Spirit, the human and divine Life of the Son, meeting together and sharing in the heat of Love-here is the Divine Trinity which through the ages all along is to be worshipped in an endless life of Service.

On Wednesday, November 8th, those over 16 were invited to a meeting in the Hall about the work of the New Hospital for Women in Euston Road.
Lady Hall took the chair. Miss Elizabeth Clarke told us how Miss Elizabeth Garrett, afterwards Mrs. Garrett Anderson, became the first English woman doctor. Her ambition was to found a hospital for women, staffed entirely by women doctors. The first step towards this hospital was St. Mary’s Dispensary, where Mrs. Garrett Anderson worked among the poorer women who lived near Edgware Road. The number of patients grew so fast that a very small hospital contain­ing ten beds was opened. Stories of the New Hospital spread over London, and patients flocked to it. In 1888 Mrs. Garrett Anderson, who had now a staff of women doctors under her, took a site near Euston. The present building of the New Hospital was then erected. The 70 beds in it are always occupied, and there are many out-patients. The hospital has provided a place where women doctors may learn self-reliance, efficiency, and the power of organisation, after they have passed their medical examinations. In this way, it has, perhaps, been more influential than any other institution in throwing open the medical profession to women.
Miss Douglas spoke about the good qualities which the medical profession requires from a woman. During her speech a collection was made for the hospital, which amounted to over £9.
Lady Hulse thanked Lady Hall, Miss Elizabeth Clarke, and Miss Douglas for giving us the meeting.
All the speeches were very interesting, particularly to those who are hoping to become doctors themselves when they grow up.

On December 2nd, 1916, the annual gathering took place of friends of the School and the mistresses and girls, for the presentation of Certificates. The Governors present were Canon Morrice, Lady Hulse, Miss Hussey, Miss Style, the Mayor, Canon Myers, Archdeacon Dundas, and Mr. Swayne.

A new feature of the occasion was the Orchestra, which opened the proceedings by playing from the platform the First Movement of Schubert’s B Flat Symphony. After the platform had been quickly cleared and the Governors had taken their places Miss Douglas read her Report, touching on all the different sides of School life, and noting all the different events of the School year. She referred to the sad loss to the School of Miss Bagnall and Miss, Jeffreys, but what she said about them will be found on another page of the Magazine.

In speaking of public examinations she said: “I intend to do away this year with the London Matriculation and also the Higher Certificate of the Oxford and Cambridge Board, and to take only the Senior Cambridge Local Examinations as admitting to the Universities, and as being the preliminary step into other professions. We shall thus have one examination instead of two to arrange and provide for, and the passing of this examination qualifies for the entrance to many careers. When once a girl is through it I hope that neither she or her parents will consider that her School life is over, but rather she will be free for her last year at School to study in such a way as either to help her to make every use of her opportunities at the University, or to follow her own bent, whatever it may be, and to gain the full advantage of what should be the most precious as well as the last year of her School life. Whenever it can be managed I feel sure parents are, generally speaking, doing the very best for their daughters, for themselves, and for their usefulness and value to the home and to the community if they can leave their girls at School till they are in the top classes of the School, and in positions of greater responsibility. The girls themselves who have gone from the School, would I believe, unanimously say if they were asked that they would not have missed their last year of School life for anything. So I want to make it clear that I feel more and more sure that we must provide in the most thorough manner for passing the examinations requisite for any future career, but that we must always keep in view that the lessons and the rest of School life should always make for the real living enjoy­ment of knowing and loving that which it is good to know and love, and for the training of hands, brains, wills, and hearts, for a full and fruitful life of service.”

Miss Douglas concluded with the following words: “The present girls of the School are, and we always remember it, a part of the greater Godolphin School that has passed on beyond the School gates to the larger life outside, and we can hardly desire better things for the girls present here now than that they shall take their part afterwards in a life of usefulness in the same spirit and with the same vigour as hundreds of those who have left the School are doing. We hear of the many splendid wives and mothers amongst them with a special feeling of pride and joy, we hear of others all over the world living lives of great usefulness ; at the present time we think of some in Romania, of many in France, or very many working in Salisbury at the Infirmary and the Red Cross Hospital, and in many other Hos­pitals, and others doing canteen work, such as Ruth Wordsworth is doing now on Salisbury Plain, others learning to drive motors or to be clerks at the War Office in Whitehall and in other offices, taking the work of men and doing it in the most thorough manner. But whether we think of the Old Girls or the present School in any efforts made to relieve the present distress, and to do our country service, all is dwarfed in comparison with what the men are doing on land, on sea, and in the air. We must at least see to it that their heroism, which is ever ready to meet the demands of a prolonged conflict, finds an echo at home in the readiness not only to persevere in any efforts we may be allowed to make, but in a readiness to increase these efforts in the spirit of patience, calmness, unselfishness, and courage, which will all help to make up the sum of sacrifice needed to bring at last assured victory and an honourable and blessed peace.

Canon MORRICE regretted that it fell to him as the oldest Governor to take the chair in the absence of Lord Methuen, who was doing such great work in Malta. It had been a happy day for the school when Lord Methuen had consented to become the Chairman of the Governors, and Canon Morrice suggested that a letter should be written to him to tell him how much we missed him. Canon Morrice complimented the orchestra on its playing, and also commented on the promptitude with which the girls had cleared the platform after the performance.

Lady HULSE, who was received with the heartiest applause, said that since last year the months that had passed had been full of horror and misery, such that it seemed inappropriate to speak of anything pleasant that had happened to oneself, but during that time the con­viction had been growing upon her that she belonged to the Godolphin School, and she hoped that she would be linked with it more and more closely as the years went on. The war had not spared the School, but she knew that the School would not have wished to be spared its share in the world’s suffering. It had taken its part in war work, and though it would not be good for the girls to be pleased with what they had done, she was pleased with what they had done, and that was good for her. The list was a very satisfactory one-they had made hospital bed tables, trays, case boards, and many splints and crutches, and a great many writing cases for the soldiers, many treasure bags, fodder bags, housewives and woollen things, and also clothes for the Belgian refugees. Besides these there was the work they had done in milking and digging the land. She wished to refer also to all that the staff had done, and the unselfish devotion they had shown as far as strength and time allowed since the very beginning of the war. It would be a great thing to remember in after years that the School had waited oil and entertained and been in personal touch with the wounded men, some of whom had taken part in the ever glorious failure of Gallipoli. There were those who felt that young people should not be saddened by the thought of suffering; she herself did not think that any great effort should be made to save them from realising what the country was going through. The shadow of the war was always over them, but that shadow was pierced by the conviction of the justness of out cause, and the certainty of the victory which would be ours. This was the third war Christmas, but no one who loved young people as she did would desire that it should not be a happy one for them, and so she would ask them to give a foremost place in their thoughts and prayers to the men who were enduring so much for us.

Archdeacon DUNDAS said that he, the newest of the Governors, rose to propose a very hearty vote of thanks to Lady Hulse for giving away the certificates, and for the moving words she had spoken. There was much talk of re-construction after the war, but he would like to refer to the re-construction of the ideas of men and the enlargement of their minds which had already taken place on the subject of what was sometimes called the weaker sex. Women were bound to take an all-important part in the building up of that new world to which we looked forward. The country owed a debt of gratitude to such schools as the Godolphin for the training and preparation they gave to the girls on whom, when they grew up, such high responsibilities would lie.

Canon MYERS seconded the vote of thanks to Lady Hulse, who in acknowledging it referred to a letter received by a friend of hers from someone who had been on the Arabia when it was torpedoed. The School would be proud to hear that a former head girl, Mrs. Forsyth (Ming Glanville) had shown on that occasion the utmost courage and calmness, and seemed concerned only for the safety of others.

As we go to Press, and as I write on this first day of July, the tremendous events of the war seem to be at their height. France’s magnificent sustained bravery in front of Verdun, Russia’s great offensive advance, Italy’s approach to Austria’s fresh line of defences, our own lengthening of our line in France and the vigorous offensive we have begun there, besides the ceaseless bravery of our sailors and soldiers wherever they arc–all these things make one feel the mighty crisis through which we are actually passing, and a great, sure hope of victory beyond it. Since our last Magazine we have had the outstanding glory of the great sea fight which has opened the way for the Armies on land, and we have had the grief and the pride which belong to the death and the life of that first of heroes in the war, who perhaps alone under God has made us sure of ultimate victory. Side by side with these tremendous events, it seems almost trivial to record the little things we at School have still been trying to carry on to help the great cause, but it is no time to despise the smallest effort on the part of anybody, for each of them helps, indeed, to produce that total supply of effort necessary to win the war. The intercessions here go on as before, and the list of names is now so long that it has to be divided into four sets. The work goes on, and about 1500 little bags and more than 200 fodder bags have been made, and 110 writing cases and some more trays have been made in the School workshops. Six girls, including Monica Wood, have been working on most days on the cooperative ground, and really wonders have been done on that bit of ground, thanks to Mrs. Robinson’s direction and the willingness of workers. For about a week we were also “commandeered” by a farmer for haymaking. I know what the School is doing interests all the Old Girls, as the many accounts of all their “war work” interest every reader of the Magazine. Let us go on holding hands, and be like the great patriotic people of old who had ” mind to work” for the strengthening of their national life and the rebuilding of their strong holds.

Eleven garments, sent to the Mayoress for Belgian children; 500 sandbags, 920 hospital bags, some trays and tables, sent to the Infirmary; various contributions, including plum puddings, sent to the Albert Hall Sale. Friday’s collections for War Funds amounted, to £22 1s. 8d.

ln December. – The House Marching Competition took place, and St. Margaret’s won the cup. The Red Girdles were won by:-

An Exhibition and Sale was held in the Studio of work done in the Drawing Classes, toys made by the Handwork Classes, and trays, &c., made in the carpenters’ shop. The proceeds amounted to £8 8s. 6d., which was sent to the Mayor for the Serbian Relief Fund.
On February 10th Miss Douglas returned to School after being away for a few weeks on account of her eyes. As she came into the Hall to take prayers Lilian King started a clap to show how delighted we all were to get her back. She thanked us all, and especially Miss Bagnall, for all we had done in her absence, and said how glad she was to be back amongst us.
In February the Staff gave a tea and concert to the wounded and convalescent soldiers from the Infirmary and Red Cross Hospital.
March 3rd. After prayers Miss Douglas spoke to us about the great meeting in the Guildhall to discuss the need of economissing throughout the Empire. Miss Douglas said that she thought we might all help by promising to give up Sweets to the end of the war. She spoke of the difficulties connected with doing this and how they could be overcome. Miss Douglas said that a board would be put up in the cloakroom on which those who were prepared to do this could sign their names; and she hoped that many other Schools belonging, to the Girls’ Schools’ Patriotic Union would do the same.

Thursday, May 4th, School re-opened. After greetings Miss Douglas, gave out that next holidays will begin on July 27th, mark reading being on July 26th, and that half-term would begin on June 16th. She also said that nice subscriptions had been brought back towards the Star and Garter Home for totally disabled soldiers. Three hundred Schools have now joined the Patriotic Union, and between us we hope to raise £2000.

At the Arts and Crafts Exhibition, held at Wilton, Muriel Box won the cup for the doll which she had dressed. She was at the head of the Junior Section. As the cup can only be held in Wiltshire, it is to be kept at Fawcett House, although Muriel has left.
As we met together this year directly after Easter, Miss Douglas gave us an Easter motto for the term: “Therefore let us keep the Feast.”
Friday, May 6th, The School went to see a most interesting cinematograph, showing splendid pictures of the Navy and of the “New Army” in training.
Thursday, May 10th, A new plan has been arranged for Thursday afternoons. Preparation is from 2 to 4, and after that we are free to go for house, form or natural history expeditions.
Wednesday, May 17th Canon Sowter came to say goodbye to us before going to Ireland. He took our Intercession Service and then spoke a few words.
Wednesday, May 24th, Empire Day. (See special notice.)
May 29th, Lady Hulse spent the day at the School, and in the afternoon saw some of the Boarding Houses and the games.
Thursday, May 25th, Miss Eastgate, helped by some of the Music Mistresses, planned a “Shakespeare Afternoon.” and arranged the following delightful programme for it:

Wednesday, May 31st, Stephen Graham came to tell us about Russia.
Thursday. June 1st, Ascension Day. We went as usual to the 8 o’clock Celebration at St. Martin’s. The younger ones had their Ascension Day Service with Miss Lucy at 10 o’clock. We went to Wishford by the 12.45 train. We had a perfectly lovely afternoon at Grovely, and though the weather was rather unsettled, we had hardly any rain until we were on our way home. We ended the day with a little service at School, at which we sang our hymn for Spring.
Monday, June 5th, We rejoiced that the big Naval battle was so great a victory, though it has cost so many their lives.
Tuesday, June 6th, We heard the terrible news that H.M.S, “Hampshire” had been sunk, and that Lord Kitchener and his Staff, who were on their way to Russia, had gone down with her.
Wednesday. June 7th, Miss Douglas said that we would sing the Ascension Day hymn, and she read the Ascension Day collect, which was particularly appropriate at the moment, when the Strengthening comfort of the Holy Spirit was so greatly needed. In speaking of the death of Lord Kitchener, she said:
“We meet to pay a tribute to a very great Englishman, a tribute of grief, and a tribute of pride, to his life and Work, a tribute, too, of sympathy with our King and with very single soldier in the Regular Army and in Kitchener’s own Army. Whether we think of Kitchener as the one who vindicated in Egypt the work of the soldier saint, or as Chief of the Staff of the Forces in South Africa, or as Commander-in-Chief in India, we recognise the greatness of a life wholly given to the service of his, country in the performance of duty”.
Special prayers were then said in commemoration of Kitchener and of the valiant men who had fought and died in the Battle of Jutland.
Thursday, June 8th, Miss Douglas said that although we had not sent any representatives to the United Girls’ Schools’ Service in Southwark, we must remember it, and we had special prayers, thinking particularly of the Mission.
Whit-Sunday, June 11th, We went In the Memorial Service to Lord Kitchener hold at the Cathedral.
Friday, June 16th, Half-Tem holiday, made longer this Year by Friday morning being given in honour of Vera Joscelyne having won a scholarship to Oxford.
All those who did not go away went to Nelson House, where Miss Powell very kindly came to help Miss Edith. Needless to say, they had a most splendid time, and, of course, enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Miss Douglas made a delightful scheme for the Summer Term, by which the girls might get more time “for doing and seeing things out of doors.” She arranged that Thursday afternoons, after 4 p.m., should be available for this purpose; the girls preparing from 2-4 p.m., and giving only half-an-hour to music, and having no preparation or music lessons after 4 p.m.

Field Club Expeditions took place on May 11th and 18th. Homington Down, Britford, Alderbury, Watery Harnham, Clarendon Woods, Old Sarum, Laverstock Down, and the Clump were visited by groups of girls.
Form Expeditions were made on June 25th to Clarendon Woods by Upper and Lower VI; to Bemerton by Matric, and Special VI; to the Downs by Upper V; to Romsey Abbey by Extra V; to Broken Bridges by Special VA. and Special VB; to Britford by Lower VB and IV; to Downton Moot by Lower IV; to Old Sarum by, III; to Laverstock Down by II, and Clarendon by I.
On June 29th the “Gardeners” had tea at Oakhurst, and afterwards visited gardens in the Close, by the kind permission of the Bishop, Archdeacon Carpenter, and Miss Hussey. On the same day Sarum House held its sports, and Lower IV. visited Old Sarum.
During the Spring and Summer Terms Lower IV. have been attending lessons on the History of Salisbury and the neighbourhood, given by Mr. Stevens, at the Museum. He very kindly went with them to Downton Moot and Old Sarum, explaining everything to them on the spot.

Miss Douglas gave the prizes in the gardens on Wednesday, May 17th.
The following Poems won prizes in a competition for the best poem on Gardens.

MY GARDEN

In the sunny summer-time when all around is gay,
And skies are blue, and trees are green, and little elfins play
Why then –
My little garden is full of all delight,
From early misty morning
To still and starry night.

The roses in my garden are red and white and pink,
And the dew-drops on their petals ask the bees to come and drink.
Oh then –
My little garden is a sight for tired eyes,
Full of lilies and carnations,
And of gaudy butterflies.

But it’s different in winter when all the flowers have gone.
And the roses have departed, and the soil looks cold and lone,
Even then –
I know in one corner of the bed
I shall find a modest violet
With its dainty purple head.

My flowers have a language, only not like yours and mine,
It’s like the rain in summer, it’s so small and light and fine,
But then –
Only few can hear it, and I am one of those,
And I won’t tell a creature
What my flowers to me disclose.

My garden’s a like kingdom of which I am the King,
And sometimes if I’m careful I can hear the fairies sing.
And then –
Why, I’m as happy as happy as call be,
And I wish that all small children
Could be a king like me.

SUN-WORSHIPPER (Ursula Armitage).

SNOWDROPS

The snow lay thick o’er all the land,
The flowers slept beneath the ground;
Majestic way the scene and grand,
So silent everything around.

Soon came the warm spring sun again,
And melted all the snow away;
Then forth there peeped in hedge and lane
The tiny leaf-buds of the May.

The fairies took a snowflake white,
And made of it a tiny bell
Which softly rang both day and night,
That Spring was coming soon to tell.

So when I see the snowdrops sweet
Peep from beneath their soft brown bed,
I know they are come forth to meet
The springtime. and that winter’s fled.